On Sunday, June 22, members of the metro Detroit Muslim community met at the Muslim Center Mosque and Community Center to talk about Dream of Detroit--a vision for revitalizing a westside neighborhood. This presentation was given to introduce attendees to the project.

1. DREAM OF DETROIT
A Detroit Revival Engaging American Muslims

2. Our Mission
Dream of Detroit is a Muslim-led initiative
combining community organizing with strategic
housing and land development to build a
healthy community and empower marginalized
neighborhoods.

3. The Crisis
• High vacancy: greater than 30%
• Classified as an “ecological innovation” zone in
the Detroit Future City Plan
– Neighborhood attrition expected to continue
– Eventual reduction in (or removal of) city services
planned
– Institutional funding for redevelopment drying up

6. The Opportunity
• Little to no competition in real estate
development in this area—wont be boxed out
residentially or commercially by anyone
• Rehab-able homes and vacant lots with
potentially productive land
• Space for new commercial developments on
Woodrow Wilson, Rosa Parks, and 14th St.

8. Community Organizing
• Local neighborhood outreach
• Systematically engaging members of the
Muslim Center
• Building strategic partnerships

9. Prepared for:
hitect:
centricdesignstudio.com
Dream Of Detroit Neighborhood Stabilization Project | Conceptual Rendering
View Looking West Along Waverly St

10. Strategic Housing
• Build a mixed-income community
accommodating all sorts of families and
individuals living within walking distance of
the masjid
– Single family homes
– Transitional homes
– Apartment buildings
– Hostels

11. After
Our First Home: 1688 Waverly Street
Before
“The greenest building is the one that’s already there!”

12. Prepared for:
Architect:
www.centricdesignstudio.com
Dream Of Detroit Neighborhood Stabilization Project | 1658 Waverly St.
AfterBefore

13. Prepared for:
Architect:
www.centricdesignstudio.com
Dream Of Detroit Neighborhood Stabilization Project | 1670 Waverly St.
AfterBefore

14. Prepared for:
Architect:
www.centricdesignstudio.com
Dream Of Detroit Neighborhood Stabilization Project | 1687 Waverly St.
AfterBefore

15. Prepared for:
Architect:
www.centricdesignstudio.com
Dream Of Detroit Neighborhood Stabilization Project | 1713 Waverly St.
AfterBefore

19. Commercial Development
• Establish Muslim and/or locally-owned
businesses employing members of the
surrounding community
• Begin with community staples:
– Grocery store
– Credit union
– Barbershop/Salon
– Pharmacy
– Rental office space
– Michigan Muslim Entrepreneurship Center

20. View looking north along Woodrow Wilson
Prepared for:
chitect:
w.centricdesignstudio.com
Dream Of Detroit Neighborhood Stabilization Project | Conceptual Renderi
View Looking West Along Waverly S

21. The How
• Firm commitment from members of the local
Muslim community (i.e. people who regularly
attend the Muslim Center)
• Habitat for Humanity style volunteer building
led by professionals in the construction trades
• Project subsidies led by members of the
Muslim community (in Detroit and abroad)
– Supplemented by outside financial sources
(government and private grants)

22. Our Vision
Dream of Detroit envisions a city amplified by its
downtown business and entertainment districts,
but anchored in its sustainable neighborhoods;
a city where home ownership, small business
development and cooperative economics, local
food sourcing, and access to education and the
arts are priorities of every neighborhood; and a
city where compassion and mercy define the
relationships of its residents.

23. “The True Life that G-D wants for all people—
not one people—their true life is a life of
cooperation… Community Life!”
—Imam W. D. Mohammed

24. Construction Team
• Responsible for the construction and renovation of
high-quality housing in our targeted neighborhood
• Who:
– People in the construction trades
• Carpenters, Electricians, Fencers, Floor Layers, HVAC
Installers, Landscapers, Plumbers, Painters, Plasterers,
Site Managers
• Primary task:
– Work with architect, primary contractor and construction
lead to complete renovations

25. Organizing Team
• Responsible for community engagement, particularly
among the local, non-Muslim population
• Who:
– People who are persuasive, enjoy community building,
willing to work outside the Muslim community
• Tasks will include:
– Holding 1 to 1s to ensure local support
– Leading on implementation of community support projects
(tree planting, gift dispersal, program sign-up)
– Eventually developing robust block club system

26. Events Team
• Responsible for pulling off well-executed,
professional events
• Who:
– Event planners, people who are detail-oriented and
have a concern for presentation
• Tasks will include:
– Managing event schedule and day-of programming
– Scoping and securing venues for events
– Coordinating logistics before, during, and after events

27. Coordinating Team
• Responsible for topline project management and
execution
• Who:
– People with strategic planning experience, strong
writing skills, fundraising success
• Tasks will include:
– Volunteer coordination
– Grant-writing
– Donor identification/cultivation
– Communications and marketing

28. “Volunteers do not necessarily have the time;
they just have the heart.”
—Elizabeth Andrew, Author

29. The Next 90 Days
Date Event Details
Saturday, July 12/19 Neighborhood Meeting Muslim Center at 7pm
Monday, July 14 Begin next rehab Waverly
Saturday, August 2 Booth at Eid Block Party Muslim Center (date tentative)
Saturday, August 23 Community Meeting Muslim Center 3pm
Labor Day Weekend Booth at ISNA / Community
Service
Cobo Hall
Saturday, September 13 Jazz Concert FR Mel Wanzo Jazz Cafe and Gym